Grange House by Sarah Blake

Author:Sarah Blake
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-11-20T16:00:00+00:00

I descended to breakfast the following morning in a curious condition. It is good Jonathan must be gone for a time on business, I thought. For the kiss had been a kiss, yet not. The grave was a grave, and yet my sister or my brother. My papa was my father, and yet not. And I had nearly sealed my fate last night, though I had not spoken aloud.

Yet the joy upon Mr. Lanman’s face betokened a sweet certainty. And Mama’s expectant smile as I entered the breakfast room was that of a child on the verge of having a secret shared. I took my seat across the table from hers and wondered what I should say.

“Mr. Lanman forgot his hat last night,” Mama began. “I found it upon the settee in the hall.”

“Oh,” said I noncommittally.

“I noticed it needs a little brushup,” she continued, “and so I’ve had it sent down to Mr. Martin’s.”

“Mama,” I said, and then stopped.

“Yes, Maisie?” She was delighted.

The postman’s bell rang and then our own bell sounded in the front hall. I quieted, trying to think of how to represent to Mama what had transpired.

“Yes, Maisie?” she repeated.

But Jessie appeared in the doorway just then. And I looked up to see she carried a thick package wrapped in the familiar dark green oilcloth, and I sprang to take it. But before I could reach her, she had put it on the table directly in front of Mama. I stood stock-still in a panic of confusion. Why had Miss Grange sent Mama a copy of her diary, as well?

“Whatever is this?” Mama asked. And before I could reply, she had taken it up in her hands and had begun to unwrap it.

“Mama.” I nearly leapt toward her, but she had torn the protective paper from the bundle of pages inside.

“Oh,” she said abruptly. “They are from Grange House.”

“Yes,” I said, bewildered, looking down upon what seemed to be a stack of black-bordered letters.

She swept the broken packet to her chest, then she looked up at me and said, “Leave me, Maisie.”

“Mama?”

With an effort, she focused her gaze upon me and gave her brave smile. “Please.”

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